Shanks smell is still lingering around

A councillor has held a meeting at the Shanks waste plant about a smell coming from the site.

South Elmsall and South Kirkby councillor Michelle Collins was first contacted by residents about the stench in late April.

Residents’ quality of life is being interrupted. We don’t want that and neither do Shanks.

Coun Michelle Collins

But months on she held the “productive” meeting as smells are re-occurring intermittently around the plant on South Kirkby Business Park.

Coun Collins said: “It should be odourless and Shanks are very clear that it should be.

“They are taking on board our concerns.

“Residents’ quality of life is being interrupted. We don’t want that and neither do Shanks.”

The plant said in March that the foul odours were harmless but apologised for any “inconvenience” caused.

It came from routine testing as part of the commissioning of its Anaerobic Design facility – which treats organic waste.

Shanks will be having opening days at the plant for residents to share their concerns. And a meeting away from the site has also been requested so that it is able to understand how the smell is affecting the community.

A Shanks spokeswoman said the plant is working with Wakefield Council and the Environment Agency to investigate the issue.

She said:“We take our responsibilities very seriously and we are implementing several new odour restriction measures including reducing waste stockpiles and amending the timing of our fast-acting doors.”